Pop · 2011 · 15 tracks · 1h 5m

21

January 19, 2011 · Soli-Cadic

A bruising, blues-infused directness replaces the quiet folk-soul of her debut, capturing the raw mechanics of a relationship's collapse with a clarity that feels almost intrusive.

The record rejects the glossy, hyper-compressed pop of its era, opting instead for the warmth of analog tape, the heavy resonance of a wooden piano, and a voice that intentionally frays at the edges under emotional weight.

By drawing on Southern blues and country music encountered on the road, these songs transform personal devastation into a cathedral of shared experience.

Tracklist · 15 Tracks · 1h 5m

01

Rolling in the Deep

3:48

02

Rumour Has It

3:43

03

Turning Tables

4:10

04

Don’t You Remember

4:03

05

Set Fire to the Rain

4:02

06

He Won’t Go

4:38

07

Take It All

3:48

08

I’ll Be Waiting

4:02

09

One and Only

5:48

10

Lovesong

5:16

11

Someone Like You

4:45

12

I Found a Boy

3:37

13

Turning Tables (live acoustic)

4:21

14

Don’t You Remember (live acoustic)

4:19

15

Someone Like You (live acoustic)

5:16

Moments Worth Listening For

01Rolling in the DeepThe stomping, gospel-inflected rhythm of 'Rolling in the Deep' establishes a defiant, blues-driven template that departs from the acoustic folk of her debut.

11Someone Like YouA stark, solitary piano accompaniment on 'Someone Like You' strips away all production layers to leave only a fragile, unadorned vocal performance.

The album's sonic shift was directly inspired by American country and Southern blues music encountered during her 2008–09 North American tour.

Reviews

Also reviewed byBBC MusicPitchforkThe Guardiantelegraph.co.ukNMEAllMusic

Where This Album Departs

How does 21 sound next to the rest of Adele's catalogue?

This album stays in step with the catalogue across the board — no axis departs enough to be worth its own note. Hover the dots to see where each one sits.

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